Sea Fever

An ocean in a bathtub.
I scoured the tub for Eth's bath, chosen instead of shower, and the sink for his hair wash
preceding the bath. He was full of puppy - hair, face, body. He likes to get into what I call the gated community (baby gates surrounding the 2 puppies) and play with them. He laughs with glee as he plays and watches their responses, however predictable. The bath time which loses traces of puppy recently has lost the usual toys because: It is Time for pirate ships to sail in the ocean! Amazingly, some of the tiny cardboard ships do float and imaginations take sail.

- the real ocean from the front deck.

Sea-Fever
"I must down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick
and the wind's song
and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face,
and a grey dawn breaking.


I must down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call
that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day
with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray
and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying."

(John Masefield 1878-1967 English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967)

This ocean beach village-by-the-Sea has a marvelous library which architecture befits the beach environment and contains a corner for children to have all to themselves.

While Eth selected books & a video, I found a couple for myself to potentially suggest on MamaGoose.com.

"Children of the Wild West" by Russell Freedman and "Children of the Great Depression" also by R. Freedman. What might be less interesting as straight history is made fascinating from the viewpoint of children and their stories. The books are full of excellent photos. Mr. Freedman is the recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his body of work; more than 50 books for young people.

Eth, from the shower, screamed lightly & high and Grams to the rescue. A dragonfly. Killed it. Bock to the computer. Another little high-pitched scream. "I'll save you" said Grams "What is it this time?" "A spider!" pointing to a wad of hair taken from the drain and then laughing uproariously. Saved again. He spotted a variety of things including a ghost which I denied the existance of. This drama went on several times.

I sat at the piano and played Beethoven music. Music for coming out of the shower, adding made-up words, then next music for being out of the shower with appropriate made-up words....when Eth suddenly surprised me with a push to my back. This time I was the one who screamed! "It's the ghost from the bathroom!" The Moonlight Sonata then was rendered in a style to depict a ghost on Pirate Ship.

The Wiz Kids Pirate ships games are big here at the beach. "Pirates of the Frozen North" became the start of obsessive collecting of well-detailed ships from all countries to make & sail & strategize.

When looking for books we did not forget the inviting used & new book store, in a snug corner along the street, a lovely store which offers what the owners calls "an idiosyncratic collection." I purchase an extra copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift From the Sea" in large print for the beach house guests and her book Bring Me A Unicorn" - her diaries & letters 1922-1928 for myself. Perhaps I will be encouraged or inspired.

Long ago the others went up to bed.
Good night two sleeping puppies. Good night kitty.

Sept 11, 2009

Eth built a "firepit" of stones & bricks in the front yard. When he lapsed in minding his mommy she took away his Friday night movie Toy Story 2 and he lay down on the ground by the pit in total disappointment. Some folks coming up from the beach passed by and said "Oh a little boy lying down by the fire" (took the kind of imagination Eth had as no fire was there & they recognized it as a place for fire). Eth answered them while remaining prone, "No I'm fainting". Fainting in disappointment. Well his attitude changed and he helped Grams water the plants and his mom surprised him with reinstatement of movie night.

Eth fell down today, not from the front tree he loves to climb, but simply in running. The rocks banged up his knee with a couple of deep abrasions which will take longer to heal because of the bending of the knee. The first aid kit is well used. He ran the wagon with it anyway but when not playing walks with it stiff.

-What things thankful for today?
-THANKFUL that CAR totally made the beach garage a lean clean room! -And for sunshine and warm weather continuing. And the loudest crashing of waves all day, like cracking thunder. -And C & AGO working outside on the shed together. -And while I work on websites, Eth running with and riding his wagon outside and running with the puppies in the garage. And fresh Blueberries and pears.